UMN 2L taking questions
Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:23 pm
2L at University of Minnesota here to take questions. I chose UMN>ND due to $ and still somewhat regret it. My mistake was not considering where I want to live after law school before going to law school. I'm not saying that UMN is bad. UMN is great if you are set on living in Twin Cities. It's comparatively easy to make connections with lawyers in large MN firms. The school was just not the right fit for me personally.
[School life]
PROS:
- Cheap living costs (You can find a 2b1b as low as $400 if you do some digging)
- Professors are generally approachable and friendly.
- Admin staff great, Students are nice, Many student groups..
- Really good Law Review (if you make it)
CONS:
- No good coffee (your option is limited to humble cup and starbucks It gets old over time)
- Getting good GPA during 1L is difficult (Ok I know it's tough everywhere) Some professors give C-
- School building old and underground
- You will not see sunlight for half of your 1L year
[Job Prospects]
PROS:
- Career Center really tries to help. (Unfortunately it is just not the kind of help I want)
- Career Center very connected with medium-small size midwest firms
CONS:
If you are sure that you don't want to live in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Surrounding midwest states, please think twice before enrolling.
- Very difficult to go East Coast, West Coast, Chicago.
- OCI firms limited
In short, you should attend if:
- You want to stay in MN
- You are interested in PI
- You want a JD/MBA. Carlson is great.
But not if:
- You want biglaw in NYC (I know a few who got into biglaw NY and DC but they really made x100 effort)
- You want to transfer (Some ppl in my section transferred to T14 schools. Lots of my 1L section-mates planned to transfer from the beginning. This means higher competition)
- You need a nice cup of latte everyday but you don't have the skills to make it yourself lol
[School life]
PROS:
- Cheap living costs (You can find a 2b1b as low as $400 if you do some digging)
- Professors are generally approachable and friendly.
- Admin staff great, Students are nice, Many student groups..
- Really good Law Review (if you make it)
CONS:
- No good coffee (your option is limited to humble cup and starbucks It gets old over time)
- Getting good GPA during 1L is difficult (Ok I know it's tough everywhere) Some professors give C-
- School building old and underground
- You will not see sunlight for half of your 1L year
[Job Prospects]
PROS:
- Career Center really tries to help. (Unfortunately it is just not the kind of help I want)
- Career Center very connected with medium-small size midwest firms
CONS:
If you are sure that you don't want to live in Minnesota/Wisconsin/Surrounding midwest states, please think twice before enrolling.
- Very difficult to go East Coast, West Coast, Chicago.
- OCI firms limited
In short, you should attend if:
- You want to stay in MN
- You are interested in PI
- You want a JD/MBA. Carlson is great.
But not if:
- You want biglaw in NYC (I know a few who got into biglaw NY and DC but they really made x100 effort)
- You want to transfer (Some ppl in my section transferred to T14 schools. Lots of my 1L section-mates planned to transfer from the beginning. This means higher competition)
- You need a nice cup of latte everyday but you don't have the skills to make it yourself lol